Big Island man sentenced in “ice” case

A federal judge sentenced Big Island resident Francis S.K. Ogata, 34, to 240 months in prison Monday for attempting to possess, with intent to distribute, approximately 145 grams of methamphetamine, or “ice.”

Because Ogata was convicted in 2005 of another drug trafficking offense, he was required to receive a sentence of at least 20 years imprisonment.

A jury convicted Ogata on Jan. 11, 2013, after a five-day trial.

Florence T. Nakakuni, United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii, said that according to information produced in court, the case grew out of the February 2012 shipment of a parcel from Las Vegas to Hilo through the United States mail.

U.S. Postal Inspectors identified the parcel as suspicious and obtained a search warrant, which resulted in the recovery of over 145 grams of methamphetamine.

After removing most of the methamphetamine, law enforcement officers held the parcel for pick up at the Hilo Post Office.

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